Birding-102
After many requests from Introduction to Birds and Birding graduates, we are finally able to offer a follow-up “course” – Birding 102. The goals of Birding 102 are to continue the intensive instruction and practice in the field that we had during Intro to Birds; to visit more interesting birding locations; to see more great birds; and to experience and discuss different aspects of birds and the birding year such as migration, breeding, behavior, and conservation. The “course” is comprised of numerous field trips throughout the year and is open to graduates of Travis Audubon’s Intro to Birds classes. Typically there will be the field trip followed by lunch and a debriefing session and discussion about the birding topic for that month. Our hope is to offer six to eight Birding 102 field trips each year. Each field trip will be advertised as a stand-alone session and registration will be required for each field trip.
Shelia Hargis is the instructor for the course. Shelia loves teaching Introduction to Birds and Birding and looks for any reason to go birding with her students after they have graduated. Laurie Foss, co-instructor of Intro to Birds and eBird guru, will assist with the field trip. Liz Gushee, Intro to Birds graduate and Digital Collections Librarian at the Harry Ransom Center, will provide resource materials for the field trips.
The tuition for each field trip is $25 for TAS members and $30 for non-members. If you have questions, contact Shelia at [email protected] or at 512-294-0272.
April Birding 102 –Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge and Endangered Songbirds
Sunday April 12
By April, both the Golden-cheeked Warblers and the Black-capped Vireos will be back on their breeding grounds and actively engaged in establishing and defending territories, looking for a mate and breeding. A great place to see both of these endangered songbirds is the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge was established to protect habitat for these and several other species. During this field trip on April 12, we will visit several of the Refuge tracts that are open to the public. Our goal is to see and hear both Golden-cheeks and Black-caps as well as other species that breed on the Refuge and any species passing through in migration. We will meet in north Austin at 6:30 am and carpool to the Refuge. After the field trip we will go to lunch together and discuss our morning’s finds. We should be back in north Austin no later than 2:00 pm.